Today’s LEQ: Why didn’t Africa’s abundance of natural resources lead to wealth for most of its population? Scramble for Africa

Main Idea In the late 1800s and early 1900s, European powers claimed land in much of Africa By 1914, only Ethiopia and Liberia remained independent This period became known as the “Scramble for Africa” and was a time of European imperialism (when a more powerful country dominates and/or heavily influences the political or economic life of other nations). Check for Understanding: Imperialism Comparison

Why “Scramble for Africa”? Economic Interests Slave trade eventually abolished; looked for natural resources instead Political Competition Imperialism in Africa reflected struggles for power in Europe Cultural Motives European imperialists felt superior to non-European peoples Check for Understanding: Which reason do you think was the most compelling for Europeans and why?

Scientific Advances Encourage Imperialism Scientific advances made traveling in and controlling Africa easier The drug Quinine protected against malaria Modern weapons & transportation

Division of Africa European nations continued to compete aggressively for territories in Africa; many will control portions of Africa well into the mid1900s! The Berlin Conference was held to create order and prevent conflict amongst European nations. You’ll be completing a web quest to learn all about the Berlin Conference!

Web Quest: Scramble for Africa http://mswynnworldhistory.wikispaces.com Click on “Scramble for Africa”

African Resistance European troops advancing on African territory often met with resistance from local rulers and peoples Zulus resisted for more than 50 years by subduing neighboring colonies; eventually British annexed kingdom Ethiopia matched European firepower by building up modern military

African Resistance Even without modern weapons, other Africans still fiercely resisted European powers French West African leader, Toure, fought against the French for 15 years; eventually caught and defeated by France In German East Africa, spiritual leader encouraged followers to use magic water as protection; rebellion quickly put down by the Germans